Richard O'Donoghue (Limerick County, Independent) | Oireachtas source

How do we support settled communities in our schools? I will give a few facts about schools.

In our area, children who have not isolated after having returned from abroad are presenting at school. They are expected to go into pods with other children who have been isolated with their families since March. Where is the sense in that in our fight against Covid?

Children are presenting to schools having been away for months in a red zone. They are travelling into a green country and returning home. The rights of both sets of children are being violated, that is, the rights to an education and to safety. I raised this in the Dáil earlier this year. If people are travelling back from abroad in clear violation of Covid regulations, we need to have something in place to protect the children who are here.

There are children coming here who went back to school in September. Between September and Christmas, the size of a class could increase from five to 30 students within a couple of months. When our children went back to school, they all started at the same time. If people are returning to this country, they are entitled to an education the same as everyone else. However, if they come into this country, they have to present themselves at a school and must ensure there is a safe environment for a child who is now back in the country. From that date, people should have to isolate for two weeks before being allowed into a school.

The passports of those coming into the country should be shown to the authorities and schools notified that they have re-entered the country, and that they need to isolate for two weeks before going back to school. We have to look after all children, settled or otherwise. We have to put in place something that protects all children.

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